Calling them ‘companies with conscience,’ Environment and Natural Resources Secretary Lito Atienza (center) honors eight companies that have shown exemplary environmental performance in a simple ceremony held at the DENR’s Social Hall in Quezon City. Leading the awardees in presenting the “DENR Seal of Approval” awarded them under the Philippine Environment Partnership Program (PEPP) implemented by the Environmental Management Bureau is business tycoon Dr. Lucio Tan for Absolut Distillers, Inc. (to Atienza’s left). The other awardees are (from left): Gilbert Javier for Nestle Philippines-Lipa Plant, Amador Alas for Nestle Philippines-Cabuyao Plant, Jess Reyes, also for Nestle Philippines-Cabuyao Plant, Edith de Leon, also for Nestle Philippines-Lipa Plant, Annie Ambay for PSI Technologies, Lloyd Magat for Vishay Philippines, Liza Beronio for STMicroelectronics, Robin Batacandolo for Analog Devices-Gen. Trias, Noel Pabilona and Gina Picandal for ON Semiconductor, and Gerry Tee, also for Absolut Distillers, Inc.

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources awarded eight companies with exemplary environmental performance with the “DENR Seal of Approval”.

It is very important that we give recognition to companies that give importance to our environment through their strict compliance to environmental standards. The awardee-companies have shown excellence in mitigating pollution by establishing wastewater treatment facilities, thereby contributing to the protection of the country’s important bodies of water such as the Pasig River, Laguna de Bay and Manila Bay.

Aside from the “DENR Seal of Approval,” the awardees were also entitled to some regulatory privileges and assistance such as relaxation of reportorial requirements and simplified requirements for securing an environmental compliance certificate for their expansion projects.

The “DENR Seal of Approval” may be used by the companies in their product labels and other promotional campaigns for a period of one year.

Mabuhay ang mga korporasyong tumutulong sa pangangalaga ng ating kalikasan. We will continue to reward and acknowledge companies which contribute to the sustainability of our environment and our natural resources, while we will penalize those who do not.

The recognition rites was in line with the Philippine Environment Partnership Program (PEPP) of the Environmental Management Bureau, a line agency of the DENR, which seeks to support local industries achieve industry self-regulation through improved environmental performance.

Under the PEPP, a package of incentives and reward mechanisms await companies or industries that voluntarily join the program. Among these are technical assistance in the preparation and implementation of environmental management plan, public awareness-raising, development of industry-specific effluent standards and practical strategies and technologies to enable them comply with prescribed effluent standards.

To qualify for the program, companies must meet three important requirements: they should have no cases filed with the DENR’s Pollution Adjudication Board for at least three years prior to the date of application, they must be in full compliance with all applicable environment laws, and they must be proven to have superior environmental performance by a 3rd party auditor.

Former Manila Assemblyman, General Manager of the National Housing Authority, Manila Vice-Mayor for 6 years, Mayor of Manila for 9 years, and Secretary of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources